UPSC Prelims 2014 Analysis

Explanation

Turkey is a transcontinental country located between the Black Sea to the north, the Aegean Sea to the west, Mediterranean Sea to the south

This is a map-based question, please refer to the map.

Explanation

National Highway 4 or NH 4, It is of 230.7 km of length. This highway is known as the Andaman Trunk Road (The Great Andaman Trunk Road).

A stretch of national highway from Mumbai to Pune to Hubli to Bangalore to Chennai was earlier called NH 4 before the renumbering of national highways in the year 2010. The former NH 4 is now renumbered as NH 48.

National Highway 6, is a national highway in India running from Jorabat in Meghalaya to Selling in Mizoram. The highway passes through the Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam, and Mizoram.

National Highway 15 (NH 15) starts from Baihata in Assam and terminates at Wakro in Arunachal Pradesh.

Explanation

1. Cardamom Hills - Coromandel Coast (Incorrect)

• The Cardamom Hills are located in the southern Western Ghats of India, spanning Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• The Coromandel Coast refers to the eastern coast of the Indian peninsula, bordering the Bay of Bengal.

2. Kaimur Hills - Konkan Coast (Incorrect)

• The Kaimur Hills are located in central India, bordering Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
• The Konkan Coast lies on the western Indian peninsula along the Arabian Sea, far from the Kaimur Hills.

3. Mahadeo Hills - Central India (Correct)

• The Mahadeo Hills are part of the Satpura Range located in central India, primarily in Madhya Pradesh.

4. Mikir Hills - North-East India (Correct)

• The Mikir Hills, now referred to as the North Cachar Hills, are located in Assam, a state in northeastern India.

Explanation

The correct sequence of the cities from south to north is

Jakarta - Indonesia (Southernmost city) Singapore - Island nation south of Malaysia Bangkok - Thailand Hanoi - Northernmost city in Vietnam (farthest north)

So the correct sequence is 3-4-1-2

This is a map-based question, please refer to the map .

Explanation

Oak trees are a common sight in the temperate forests of the Himalayas, particularly at mid-altitudes.

Rhododendrons are a diverse group of flowering shrubs that thrive in the cool, moist conditions of the Himalayas. They are known for their vibrant blooms and are a characteristic feature of the Himalayan landscape.

Sandalwood is not typically found in the Himalayas. It prefers drier climates and is more commonly associated with tropical regions like southern India. Thus, correct answer is 'A'.

Explanation

Dampa Tiger Reserve or Dampha Tiger Reserve, the largest wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram, India, was notified in 1985 and declared a Tiger Reserve in 1994.

Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is in Tripura.

Mt. Saramati is the highest peak in Nagaland.

Explanation

The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of a monsoon climate.

Monsoons are seasonal winds that bring predictable patterns of rainfall. In summer, warm, moist air blows inland from the ocean, bringing heavy rainfall. In winter, the winds blow offshore, bringing dry conditions. This seasonal reversal of winds is what defines a monsoon climate.

Explanation

Coal bed methane is indeed pure methane gas extracted from coal seams. However, shale gas is not a mixture of propane and butane only. Shale gas is primarily composed of methane, similar to coal bed methane, and can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks, specifically shale formations. So, the first part of the statement is correct but the second part is incorrect.

It's not accurate to say that no shale gas sources have been found in India. While it's true that coal bed methane sources are abundant in India, shale gas sources have also been identified, although their exploitation is at a nascent stage compared to coal bed methane.

Therefore, neither of the statements is entirely correct.

Explanation

Continental drift The movement of continents over millions of years has led to changes in the distribution of landmasses, altering habitats and creating opportunities for species to migrate, adapt, and diversify. It has influenced speciation events by creating barriers to gene flow and promoting allopatric speciation.

Glacial cycles Fluctuations in global climate associated with glacial-interglacial cycles have had profound effects on ecosystems and species distributions. Periods of glaciation have resulted in the expansion and contraction of ice sheets, leading to changes in sea levels, habitats, and the distribution of flora and fauna. These environmental changes have driven evolutionary processes such as adaptation, migration, and extinction.

Therefore, both continental drift and glacial cycles have played significant roles in shaping the evolution of organisms.

Explanation

The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands.

• The Ten Degree Channel is named so because it lies on the 10th degree of latitude north of the equator.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a union territory of India, but they are two distinct island groups separated by this channel.

Explanation

Barak The Barak River is important in Manipur and Mizoram, but it does not flow through Arunachal Pradesh.

Lohit The Lohit River originates in the eastern end of the Himalayas in the Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh and flows through the districts of Anjaw, Lohit, and Dibrugarh in Arunachal Pradesh.

Subansiri The Subansiri River is a tributary of the Brahmaputra River and flows through Arunachal Pradesh.

Therefore, only the Lohit and Subansiri rivers flow through Arunachal Pradesh.

Option (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation

Kinnaur (Himachal) is famous for apples, while Arecanut is grown mainly in the southern region.

Mewat is a region in Haryana while mango is grown in central and south India.

Coromandel (TN-Andhra) is known for rice cultivation, while soybean is predominantly in central India.

Thus, none of the given pairs is correctly matched. Hence the correct answer is 'D'. .